The Cost Of Clutter

When I was first starting my minimalism journey back in 2015, when it came to decluttering and tidying my things, I had all of these fears come up around the cost of clutter and finally letting it go. Fears like,

• What if I get rid of this [name of object] now and then I have to buy a replacement later?
• It feels wasteful to get rid of this [name of object] because I spent so much money to buy it!
• Maybe I should try and sell this [name of object] because it’s too expensive to just donate.

Do any of these fears come up for you? If so, I get it! I’ve been working on creating a positive relationship with money because in my house, we got by but it was so hard. I don’t like to be wasteful with money and I know that sometimes, there are legitimate concerns about things like paying for replacement items. We should absolutely take these costs into consideration. But they’re not the only costs that matter. Clutter can take up space in our homes, hearts, and minds. But what else is your clutter costing you? In this article, I’m taking a look at the cost of clutter and what it really costs or could cost you and you can decide for yourself!

What is Clutter?

Clutter is defined as, “a collection of things lying around in an untidy mess.” Clutter, decluttering, tidying – these have all been buzzwords that we have been hearing for a couple of years now. Marie Kondo, The Minimalists, The Home Edit – the term “clutter” has spread like wildfire. Chances are, you’ve seen a few headlines and articles about clutter. Ultimately, it’s taking up space in your holistic home.

What is the cost of clutter to you?

I like to ask a couple of questions to myself about what the cost of clutter could be for me. Questions like:

• If your home is cluttered, what is the cost to your well-being?
• Do you feel good when you walk in your front door? Or do you feel suffocated and overwhelmed?
• What about the cost of your time?
• How many precious minutes are spent cleaning or even just thinking about things that don’t really matter?
• And if I’m being honest here, what about the cost of your self-worth?
• How do you feel when you open your closet and it’s full of clothes you don’t wear, such as things you no longer fit?
• What messages are you sending to yourself by having all of the pieces in your home that you do?

For example, if you walk into your home, it feels heavy, not like you, and you’re spending hours taking care of the things that should be bringing you joy but you only have because Mrs. Jones across the street has them too, it’s time for you to reflect on what you desire for yourself and your space and to let it go!

Is it costing you space?

Now obviously, clutter takes up space in our homes. By decluttering all of the clutter in our homes, you will start to see space free up throughout your home – cabinets, shelves, floor space, etc., and anywhere else that clutter collects. Declutter your home and reclaim some physical space so your home looks and feels clearer, more spacious, and with more ease of access and flow from room to room. What could you use more space for? Is it hobbies, inviting guests over to stay, playing games with your kids, exercising, setting up a home office, a playroom for your kids, or a spare bedroom? Maybe even parking your car in the garage instead of it being used as storage space? These are great questions to ask yourself as you are starting this journey.

Is it costing you time?

Your items require looking after, cleaning, clearing, tidying up, and moving around. Every item in your home is sending out messages about what it needs and how it requires looking after and maintaining once it’s been placed within your spaces.. This care requires your time. Your time is the most valuable resource you have. Why waste it on looking after, cleaning, clearing, tidying up, and moving it around just to keep doing for the item’s lifespan or yours for that matter? Wouldn’t you rather be spending your time doing other things? In the words of Mary Oliver, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” I think most of us would rather not be spending too much of it cleaning and clearing!

Is the cost of clutter your peace?

A clutter-free home often feels lighter, more calm, and more peaceful. It’s a sanctuary from the busy world, a haven to retreat to when you need to feel balanced and refreshed. It is a source of comfort for those with chronic illnesses and health challenges. It is a source of stability and security for those with an anxious mind. It is a place to enjoy being with family and friends. A cluttered and chaotic home can raise your stress levels so declutter your home for more peace in body, mind, and spirit.

Is it costing you energy?

In Feng Shui, clutter is a source of heaviness, it’s negative energy. And we want positive energy within our homes. Dealing with our clutter costs us energy. We exacerbate physical energy in moving, cleaning, and dealing with our stuff. We exacerbate mental energy when we think about moving, cleaning, and dealing with our stuff. You get the picture. If we declutter and reduce the number of items in our house, we would save so much time on housework and save so much energy! Plus, by reducing the clutter in our homes, it increase positive energy within our spaces and your space will feel so much lighter!

Is it costing you money?

How in the world did you end up with your things? You went and bought them, right? That or someone gave them to you. Either way, clutter costs us money. Money to purchase it, to store it, and sometimes money to get rid of it. Before you hit the shops, ask yourself whether you really need that item. I like to ask questions like these below to find out what your clutter is costing you financially:

• Do you have something similar you could use instead?
• Could you borrow it?
• Where will you keep it when not in use?
• Is it an impulse buy that if you waited to buy, you might decide against it after all?
• If you look around your home, would you buy what you have in it again? Do you use everything in it?

Reconsider the clutter in your home, stop the vicious cycle right from the beginning by not going shopping or if you do go shopping, you go in with a plan and list. Your bank account will thank you.

Is it taking a toll on your mental health?

Mental health has become a buzzword recently in the media. We’ve all heard about how we should be taking care of our mental health. Well, most mental health problems start with stress. Stress triggered by clutter may also trigger coping and avoidance strategies, like eating junk food, oversleeping, or binge-watching Netflix. So, to help us cultivate healthy habits for body and mind, start with clearing your clutter! Your mind will thank you!

In conclusion on the cost of clutter,

I heard a great quote from Joshua Becker from BecomingMinimalist.com, he said, “We don’t buy things with money, we buy them with hours of our lives.” The average female lives to be about 82. That is 718,320 hours. I’ll tell you what, out of that number of hours, I know they can be better spent on friends, family, and the quality of life than on taking care of clutter. The cost is just too high to NOT be spending time on the things that really matter. I’d love to help you get started on defining that for you so come join us in the Holistic Home Refresh where we get down to the heart of the matter. I’ll look forward to seeing you inside!

Love,